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Multiple Choice
How many protons does a sodium atom have?
A
11
B
10
C
12
D
13
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the element in question, which is sodium. Sodium is represented by the chemical symbol 'Na'.
Locate sodium on the periodic table. The periodic table provides essential information about each element, including its atomic number.
Understand that the atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element. For sodium, the atomic number is 11.
Recognize that the atomic number is unique to each element and determines the element's identity. Therefore, a sodium atom has 11 protons.
Verify your understanding by checking the periodic table again to ensure that sodium's atomic number is indeed 11, confirming that a sodium atom has 11 protons.